Hospitality on Hawk Mountain Trail

On an almost 99 degree day this past weekend, this was our escape (and reward).

Enjoy!

view from the top

early Bear Grass

Honeysuckle

they look like sombreros

more Bear Grass

honeysuckle bush

Trillium

right on the trail

snow!

field of Bear Grass

more snow

the trail

cabin at top

outside cabin

rustic

breathtaking Jefferson

lovely Jefferson

from the top

another view from the top

One of Oregon’s finest trails, this is off of Rho Ridge trail in the Mt. Hood National forest. It’s also one we’d never hiked. It’s about 4 1/2 miles, and only slightly challenging for me (due to fussy feet. I’ve finally discovered some pretty workable hiking boots made by Hoka. They offer lots of padding in the only place I need some). The biggest challenge was the heat and because much of the trail was in full sun; otherwise, it was a lovely hike.

At the top we met a most hospitable fellow. That’s him on the stoop. He brought out the bench inside the cabin so we could rest our weary feet (and avoid the ants crawling over the only shady log in sight). Turns out, we live not far from each other. We offered him part of our sandwich and orange slices, he offered us chips and the use of his AC unit (a bucket of fresh snow acquired downhill). We laughed as he scooped out a handful and let it melt over his bald head.

Lunch break was spent comparing hiking stories on trails we all know well. We’d all hiked Pechuck, Table Rock, Bull of the Woods, and others.

The only real danger was the threat of my husband breaking into song, or maybe running out of water, but thank the hiking Gods above, neither happened. This view below, and incredible hospitality, was our reward.

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28 comments for “Hospitality on Hawk Mountain Trail”

tarnishedsoul

June 23, 2016 at 2:28 pm

And THIS is what I was just asking on my thread…lol… Here is a post about hiking from you. I love these pictures and I have always wanted to see what that part of the country looks like up close and personal. This is amazing!

Thank you once again! I just expanded my blog to include photos of our hikes. We try to go weekly, but sometimes don’t make it. That hike was simply gorgeous. The man we encountered up top lives in our community. Too funny. I will definitely be posting more of our hikes this summer as we go. 🙂

I don’t go as much now as when I was a kid. When I was a kid, there were probably 3-4 hikes every summer and then when I was a young adult, probably once per month, and then I lost like 10-15 years worth of life without hikes and then a few years ago I started again. I don’t want to miss out again.

Me, neither, but I have fussy feet and knees and have to really watch the difficulty of the trails I attempt. I’ve tried my new Hokas now twice and feel pretty good about them. I backpacked in high school and about died having never been and not having the best footwear. We are lucky in the PNW to have such nice trails. Most are well maintained. 🙂

Well, I should have said “Como vai?” Desculpe. 😉 When my Brazilian sister and her husband visited three years ago, it was their first trip to the US, and we took them hiking. They loved it! We visited Ramona Falls, a trail in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Lovely area and one of my favorite hikes. Such wonderful memories. So glad we could show them such a great area near where we live. We are lucky in that regard. Will you post about your hikes?

I bet your Brazilian sister loved the hikes. We do have mountains and things like that back home, but they are all so different from what you find here.
And yeah I’ll post about our hikes! 🙂 As I said before, I’m really excited about it!

I don’t think they’d ever been on a hike like we took, or that they’d seen the falls. I’ve been itchin’ to get back on that same trail but the bridge crossing the Sandy River was washed out and the trail was closed after that point. They say now one has to cross that river in the water. Hmmm. Not so much fun. I am wondering what you miss most about Brazil. Thoughts? I miss the warmth of the people. 🙂

I don’t miss that many things. I’m used to living in different places, so I adapt quite easily. I do miss the beaches in my hometown Florianopolis and the city of São Paulo. But what I miss the most is my family.

My gosh! That place is gorgeous!! I can’t believe THAT is only 4 1/2 miles in! That cabin is awesome and the A/C made me laugh. Funny to see so much snow in June. I kind of wish your husband would’ve broke out in song though! Ha! Beautiful photos. All those flowers are new to me. Especially love the sombrero! Great post!

Well, the hike was a total of 4 1/2 miles. And we had to drive half way to the moon to get there. Have you seen Bear Grass in full bloom, as in on a hillside? Oh, gorgeous! This was not yet in full bloom, but I thought of a sombrero when I took those pictures. We saw snow on the road up to the trail so were not surprised to see snow ON the trail too. I told Miriam I took a video while walking along the trail, and the view is good, but it’s really bumpy since I was trudging uphill and out of breath. Funny video. Would probably make you all dizzy. 😉

I figured it was a drive and a half in. We used to live in Colorado and had to drive a long ways up to even get to the trail heads. I’ve never seen Bear Grass, but seeing your pictures makes me want to. I bet that video is funny. Mine would look the same way! This post gives me another reason to want to come your way. This and Rolos!

Oh, the view, the trail, the man at the top, all were awesome. I took a video after my husband threatened to start singing The Hills Are Alive…, but decided not to post. It does give a good view but it’s bumpy as I was walking (and huffing and puffing, too). 😉

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